Join us for episode 10 of Ask The Architect where Healthcare Studio Leader Edward Marcey explains the many positive impacts community health centers have on both patients and hospitals.
Author: Olivia Peyev
Today marks the final day of Zoe Botta’s Summer Design Internship with MP. A member of the Carnegie Mellon University Class of 2027, Zoe has been a dedicated, hardworking, and enthusiastic contributor to our team. As her internship comes to a close, we sat down with Zoe to reflect on her experience and the impact she has made during her time with us.
Zoe, how are you feeling as you near the end of your MP Design Internship?
I’m incredibly grateful for the staff, experiences, and knowledge that I’ve gained during my time at MP. I’m going to miss all of you and the work that I’ve been doing here. I’m especially thankful for all the patience, kindness, and mentorship that I have received throughout my internship.
What has been your favorite part of interning at MP?
I think the people are a real highlight. I feel so deeply spoiled when it comes to the number of people that have let me come on various site visits‑or, how I kindly refer to them as field trips. I’m very thankful for being able to see and learn as much as I can, and I think that’s really because the people have been so willing to bring me along and explain to me the process and importance of each aspect of architecture. I mean, I also love the snack, love the bagels on Tuesdays-I’m not going to lie to you. But overall, I think it’s really the community, the culture of this place, and the fact that I’m doing real work here. I’m doing things that help me learn all while contributing to something.
What is the most impactful or surprising thing you learned about architecture and design?
Going into this experience, I knew that architecture education and architecture practice were different, but I don’t think I realized how much of a difference there was. Of course, what I’m learning in school is helping me here, but those are more of the “how to think” skills, and this is more of the actual practice of architecture. I’m also a little bit surprised by the amount of communication between various teams, both internally and externally. It is a lot of facilitating conversation between the client, vendors, engineers, and sometimes even other architecture and design firms. I understood architects having to know about all the parts and pieces, but I don’t think I knew how they actually played out.
What is something you experienced at MP that you will take with you back to school?
MP redefined to me what looking at something big picture means. Going into this experience, big picture kind of meant zooming out with a less high-fidelity level of detail. But what I’ve learned from MP is that the big picture is defined by the small details. So, if you don’t have those small details, the big picture is not going be as successful. Similar to a puzzle, if the individual pieces are well crafted, the entire composition will be fantastic, but if even one piece is not created with care, you will be able to tell. I have seen a heightened level of care in every step while at this office and have directly seen that translation into creating meaningful spaces.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone interested in interning at an architectural firm?
I went into this internship not having any finite things that I wanted to do or learn but rather was willing to work on anything and everything. This broad approach helped me the most because it meant that I didn’t limit myself or my experience based on what I thought I wanted. I was very aware that I had a lot to learn and didn’t want to pigeonhole myself into one area of architecture. I would advise them to just go into any experience or opportunity as a sponge. Taking the opportunities people throw at you is really one of the best ways to learn, because you learn what you like and what you don’t like.
In episode 9 of Ask The Architect, Caitlin Greenwood, Partner and Senior Project Manager, discusses how to make the most out of a sublease lab space.
As the global population ages, the healthcare industry faces increasing pressure to provide environments that are safe, accessible, and responsive to the needs of older adults. According to the United States Census Bureau, 2023 National Population Projections Tables: Main Series, in the United States, the number of people aged 65 and older is projected to reach over 80 million by 2050. In response, architects and healthcare planners must focus on designing community health centers and ambulatory care spaces that address the physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of this demographic.
Translating Cognitive-Friendly Wayfinding Research into Practice
Wayfinding—the ability to navigate spaces independently—is a crucial component of a successful healthcare environment for older adults. Cognitive decline, vision impairments, and memory loss can make it difficult for geriatric patients to understand spatial orientation and signage.
Architectural strategies should begin with clear, intuitive layouts that minimize decision points. Repetitive planning configurations, such as mirrored floorplans or inconsistent corridor branching, should be avoided. Instead, incorporate axial circulation with direct sightlines to key destinations such as reception, restrooms, and exits.
Graphic standards play a key role in reinforcing these layouts. Large, high-contrast fonts with iconography that is universally understood should be used. Colors should differentiate spaces but avoid overstimulation—soft, matte finishes in warm hues have been found to reduce visual confusion. Floor patterning should be simple and non-directional to prevent misinterpretation of changes in elevation.
By adopting evidence-based standards into templates and best-practice guidelines, designers can deliver repeatable, scalable environments that support autonomy for older adults.
Materials and Assemblies to Reduce Falls
Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, often resulting in hospitalization and long-term loss of independence. Architects can mitigate this risk through careful selection of flooring materials, lighting, and spatial transitions.
Slip-resistant flooring with a coefficient of friction (COF) above 0.6 for wet conditions should be standard in public areas, restrooms, and exam spaces. Cushioned vinyl and rubber flooring systems offer a balance of traction and shock absorption, reducing the severity of injury in the event of a fall. Thresholds should be flush to the floor or beveled with no abrupt level changes.
Lighting should be even, glare-free, and adjustable to accommodate the reduced visual acuity associated with aging. Integrated lighting in millwork and under toe-kicks helps define boundaries and reduces shadows that can cause missteps.
Handrails, grab bars, and seating ledges should be incorporated seamlessly into design, especially along long corridors or waiting areas, supporting both mobility and dignity. These measures can be standardized across community health centers and ambulatory projects to ensure consistency in risk reduction.
Universal Design and Aging-in-Place Strategies
Universal design goes beyond accessibility codes to create environments usable by all people, regardless of age or ability. For aging populations, this means designing healthcare environments that can adapt to changing physical and cognitive needs without requiring major renovation.
Key tactics include:
- Lever-style door handles and touch-free sensor fixtures for arthritic hands.
- Adjustable exam tables and seating at varying heights to accommodate mobility aids.
- Wide doorways and hallways that comfortably allow for walkers, wheelchairs, and caregivers.
- Restroom layouts that support transfer from mobility devices with unobstructed turning radius.
In community health and ambulatory settings, these strategies mirror those used in aging-in-place residential design, promoting familiarity and comfort. When seniors perceive clinical spaces as extensions of their home environments, compliance and satisfaction rise significantly.
Designing Telehealth-Ready Environments
Telehealth has emerged as a vital tool in extending access to care, particularly for older adults who face transportation or mobility challenges. However, the built environment must support this model to ensure its effectiveness.
Private telehealth booths or consult rooms should be acoustically isolated with sound-absorbing surfaces to reduce background noise and protect patient confidentiality. Ergonomic furniture, proper screen positioning, and glare control from ambient light are essential for a seamless user experience.
Infrastructure must support secure, high-speed internet connections and HIPAA-compliant data systems. Visual backgrounds in telehealth rooms should be calming and free of distractions—light-colored walls, modest artwork, and minimal equipment exposure all contribute to professional, comfortable settings.
By designing with telehealth in mind, community health and ambulatory centers can better serve aging patients while alleviating transportation burdens and increasing visit adherence.
Integrated Service Layouts to Improve Experience and Efficiency
One of the most effective ways to support geriatric patients is to reduce the number of steps and transitions required to access care. Integrated service layouts in community health centers consolidate multiple services—such as check-in, labs, diagnostics, and pharmacy—into a unified footprint.
This approach reduces patient travel distances, shortens waiting times, and eliminates the confusion of navigating large or multi-building facilities. For example, collocating behavioral health consults near primary care pods ensures seamless transitions for patients who may struggle with scheduling and follow-up adherence.
Design solutions include:
- Centralized reception and patient access points.
- Shared teamwork areas to encourage collaboration.
- Flexible-use rooms that support different specialties on rotating schedules.
- Onstage/offstage circulation to minimize stress and maintain patient privacy.
These efficiencies not only improve satisfaction metrics but also support care coordination and operational sustainability.
Designing community health and ambulatory care spaces for an aging population requires a proactive, evidence-based approach rooted in empathy and practicality. By prioritizing cognitive-friendly wayfinding, fall-resistant materials, universal design principles, telehealth infrastructure, and integrated-service layouts, architects can create spaces that elevate the quality of care for older adults. As demographic shifts continue to transform healthcare demand, thoughtful design will remain a cornerstone of safe, equitable, and dignified care environments.
Join us for this episode of Ask The Architect with Principal and Partner, Dan Perruzzi, where he answers common questions of how landlords can better fit the tenants of today.
Gillian Valanzola is featured in New England Real Estate Journal’s Ones to Watch – Rising Stars!
Gillian Valanzola | Project Designer
“Gillian is a talented designer who is well on her way to becoming an exceptional architect. She possesses a strong technical ability to develop design concepts into detailed construction drawings. This ability, combined with her skills in spatial awareness and planning, makes her a valuable asset to any project team. Her consistent work ethic and thirst for expanding her knowledge and skills is virtually unmatched at her level.” – Josh White, Director of Operations at Margulies Perruzzi.
What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far, and what did it teach you? One of the significant challenges I encountered in my career was entering the workforce at the end of the pandemic. The new normal was a hybrid workstyle. While this transition was difficult for everyone, it was particularly daunting as a newcomer trying to establish meaningful professional relationships. This experience taught me the importance of proactive communication, particularly when working with a team that isn’t all in the same location. I learned how to engage with my colleagues, ask questions, and seek out learning opportunities, even when facing physical distance.
If you could give advice to someone just starting out in your field, what would it be? For anyone just starting out in the architecture field, my advice is to take advantage of every learning opportunity available. Attend all the “lunch and learn” sessions and after- work events and spend as much time on- site at projects as possible. It’s important to get to know your colleagues. Each of these experiences provides a valuable chance to build relationships, ask questions, and learn from others’ experiences. My exposure to different aspects of the architecture field has revealed a wide range of opportunities for growth.
By Caitlin Greenwood and Jane Kepros
The US life science commercial real estate market currently has an excess of lab and office space. According to JLL’s report, 2024 Life Sciences Real Estate Perspective and Cluster Analysis, an estimated 50 million square feet of laboratory space sits vacant across the US. As companies seek to reduce operating costs, many are downsizing their real estate footprint. Consequently, startups and established companies alike are now leasing space from one another. It is essential that those looking to sublease space do their due diligence to ensure selection of adequate space to meet their needs.
Clarify the terms of your sublease
It is crucial for both parties involved to clearly define and understand the terms of any sublease. The lease should specify what changes can and cannot be made within the space and how the space must be returned. Many professionals can assist with reviewing the lease, including a commercial real estate broker, owner’s project manager, and/or legal counsel. They can help you understand what is and is not included and guide you through the negotiation process if you choose to proceed. Additionally, this is a good time to engage a lab planner for pre-programming to confirm that the space requirements will fit within the available footprint.
Define your program needs
The pre-programming phase provides a high-level review of space needs to help define program requirements and identify any potential obstacles before signing a lease. But once the lease is signed, a more detailed programming and planning phase is essential to refine the program requirements.
A thorough programming process helps busy lab managers and their operations team establish critical program elements, including, but not limited to, laboratory, office, amenity, and support space, as well as furniture, equipment, and utility requirements. This process is an important step in creating a functional environment that supports both scientific work and the needs of the staff.
Evaluate existing infrastructure
Once the program is defined, understanding how the space was constructed and how it can or cannot support your program will impact the extent of renovations required to meet the company’s needs. It is important to allocate funds wisely, prioritizing expenditures that are critical for science or workstreams. For example, using existing manifolds and pre-plumbed lab gas lines can be a great option, but if they do not exist or have not been adequately maintained, then use of local gas cylinders may be a better solution. Understanding what is available and included is important to make these decisions.
Identify modular or point-of-use options
Incorporating modular elements into a subleased space can be beneficial. If renovations are needed, modular systems like demountable walls and flexible furniture solutions—such as mobile casework, storage systems, and carts—can be utilized. This approach allows the subletter to easily return it to its original condition and take these items with them when they move to a new location.
There are also countless point-of-use options for many elements used or required in a laboratory, including alarms, vacuum pumps, ductless fume hoods, etc. A freestanding eyewash station or other safety elements could even be an effective solution, based on the use case and local code. Collaborating with an architect, lab planner, safety consultant, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineer can help identify these cost-saving measures.
Ensure your space reflects your company culture
Creating a unique space that captures a company’s culture does not have to be expensive or permanent. Paint colors, signage, artwork, and personalized décor can go a long way in capturing the spirit of your company. Consider how employees like to engage in selecting unique additions to the space, such as a game table or special coffee machine. These items can be incorporated into your next space to help maintain company identity moving forward.
As subleasing lab spaces becomes more common, it is essential for companies to understand what is and is not allowed in these spaces, as well as how to customize them affordably. The available space may be fully fit-out and furnished, or it could be an empty shell. While some companies, for example, many start-ups transitioning from an incubator, may find a furnished, turn-key solution sufficient for their scientific and workplace needs, other companies may prefer an empty space that they can design to better support their workflows and needs. By following a straightforward roadmap and conducting a thorough due diligence, companies can thrive in their temporary spaces until they are ready to move on.
This article originally appeared in Lab Manager.